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In God’s Hand ...

A Pro!etic Ca" To End-Time Min#try

Our text …

Isaiah 62:1, 3, 12 “1 FOR ZION’S sake will I [ Isaiah] not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest until her imputed righteousness and vindication go forth as brightness, and her salvation radiates as does a burning torch. 3 You shall also be [so beautiful and prosperous as to be thought of as] a crown of glory and honor in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem [exceedingly beautiful] in the hand of your God. 12 And they shall call them the Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord; and you shall be called Sought Out, a City Not Forsaken.”

Clearly, God has made a prophetic Promise and Covenant here with His Children … we shall be a Crown of Glory in His Hand.

Isaiah 62:3 “3 You shall also be [so beautiful and prosperous as to be thought of as] a crown of glory and honor in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem [exceedingly beautiful] in the hand of your God.”

The Remnant or Bride is paralleled directly with the City of Jerusalem. Both are the Apple of His Eye. It seems to me, if we look at the context of the Torah surrounding this Covenantal Promise we find that we are on some form of scale.

The position and status of a Crown of G lo r y i n God ’s Hand i s one o f progressive realization … almost like a timeline, with incremental change and becoming as you go along.

The Word says … “you shall be”. This word be is “haw-yaw” in Hebrew.

What I am … What I am becoming …

In the physical …

Remember the principle taught by Paul in Corinthians. First the natural … and then the follows the spiritual.

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“haw-yaw”[Strong’s Hebrew 1961]

“to be, to become, to come to pass”

1 Corinthians 15:45-49 “45 Thus it is written, The first man Adam became a living being (an individual personality); the last Adam (Christ) became a life-giving Spirit [restoring the dead to life]. 46 But it is not the spiritual life which came first, but the physical and then the spiritual. 47 The first man [was] from out of earth, made of dust (earthly-minded); the second Man [is] the Lord from out of heaven. 48 Now those who are made of the dust are like him who was first made of the dust (earthly-minded); and as is [the Man] from heaven, so also [are those] who are of heaven (heavenly-minded). 49 And just as we have borne the image [of the man] of dust, so shall we and so let us also bear the image [of the Man] of heaven.”

If we go back to my timeline example, we see this progression as it pertains to or describes Jerusalem in the physical.

Physical Jerusalem …

New Jerusalem …

Isaiah 62:4 “4 You [Judah] shall no more be termed Forsaken, nor shall your land be called Desolate any more. But you shall be called Hephzibah [My delight is in her], and your land be called Beulah [married]; for the Lord delights

in you, and your land shall be married [owned and protected by the Lord].”

Isaiah 62:12 “12 And they shall call them the Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord; and you shall be called Sought Out, a City Not Forsaken.”

Many have traveled to Jerusalem to see the broken down walls. And many have stood at the Western Wall which is a symbol of the first Tabernacle.

Equally, our lives also reflect that state of unfinished work … of high walls of victory, some parapets of expectation, and some gates at which we also sometimes fail to take up the leadership role of sitting on the “seat of Moses”4.

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4 [Matthew 23:1-3]. In each city, the elders would take up the seat of authority in the gates. The Rabbis of the time were supposed to take up the role of interpreting God’s Will in everyday situations. Today, we call this listening and doing, WWJD. God’s response is unique to the needs of every situation. You cannot apply a rulebook … but this means that you have to be intimate, and must be listening. As so often is the case, it is easier to give good advice, than to be listening to God’s Direction.

But, this Body of Messiah will transform!

There will be a New Jerusalem … a great city that is the Bride of the Lamb.

In the spiritual … with respect to the New City of Jerusalem.

Revelation 21:9-10 “9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven final plagues (afflictions, calamities) came and spoke to me. He said, Come with me! I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife. 10 Then in the Spirit He conveyed me away to a vast and lofty mountain and exhibited to me the holy (hallowed, consecrated) city of Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God,”

More importantly, this Bride of the Lamb, this City has God’s Glory in it.

Revelation 21:11 “11 Clothed in God’s glory [in all its splendor and radiance]. The luster of it resembled a rare and most precious jewel, like jasper, shining clear as crystal.”

And so this text tells us … we have to prepare for transition. We have to move from one dimension to another.

Esther and Lydia …

These two women are our role-models. They made the sacrifice to transform from the everyday to a position of being an ambassador for the Kingdom … from a queen of an earthly domain, to a queen of a …

• Set apart• A Royal Priesthood• A Holy Nation

… a Light to the world!

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Our text places …

Isaiah 62:3 “3 You shall also be [so beautiful and prosperous as to be thought of as] a crown of glory and honor in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem [exceedingly beautiful] in the hand of your God.”

• The Bride• With the Crown of Glory and Honor• In God’s Hand

And places us in between …

• the process I call “grinding and polishing”, and

Isaiah 62:1-2 “1 FOR ZION’S sake will I [Isaiah] not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest until her imputed righteousness and vindication go forth as brightness, and her salvation radiates as does a burning torch. 2 And the nations shall see your righteousness and vindication [your rightness and justice—not your own, but His ascribed to you], and all kings shall behold your salvation and glory; and you shall be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord shall name.”

• the process I call “shining for God”

Isaiah 62:10-12 “10 Go through, go through the gates! Prepare the way for the people. Cast up, cast up the highway! Gather out the stones. Lift up a standard or ensign over and for the peoples. 11 Behold, the Lord has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to the Daughter of Zion, Behold, your salvation comes [in

the person of the Lord]; behold, His reward is with Him, and His work and recompense before Him. 12 And they shall call them the Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord; and you shall be called Sought Out, a City Not Forsaken.”

Before we get there, I want you to look at this verse.

1 Peter 5:4 “4 And [then] when the Chief Shepherd is revealed, you will win the conqueror’s crown of glory.”

Here we find …

• It is the Chief Shepherd Y’shua who gives this Crown• The Crown never fades

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The “grinding and polishing” process …

Isaiah 62:1-2 “1 FOR ZION’S sake will I [Isaiah] not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest until her imputed righteousness and vindication go forth as brightness, and her salvation radiates as does a burning torch. 2 And the nations shall see your righteousness and vindication [your rightness and justice—not your own, but His ascribed to you], and all kings shall behold your salvation and glory; and you shall be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord shall name.”

The Body of Messiah is made up of “Living Stones”.

I suppose many of us think in terms of current day building sites, of …

• mud and clay bricks• cement bricks and blocks• river stones and so forth

But, God sees His Living Stones differently.

The New Jerusalem consists of precious stones … somehow we become Precious Stones.

Revelation 21:18-21 “18 The wall was built of jasper, while the city [itself was of] pure gold, clear and transparent like glass. 19 The foundation [stones] o f the wa l l o f the c i t y were ornamented with all of the precious stones. The first foundation [stone] was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony (or white agate), the fourth emerald, 20 The fifth onyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth

topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each separate gate being built of one solid pearl. And the main street (the broadway) of the city was of gold as pure and translucent as glass.”

Paul talks about the transformation from someone “ordinary” to someone who is holy …

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Ephesians 2:19-22 “19 Therefore you are no longer outsiders (exiles, migrants, and aliens, excluded from the rights of citizens), but you now share citizenship with the saints (God’s own people, consecrated and set apart for Himself); and you belong to God’s [own] household. 20 You are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus Himself the chief Cornerstone. 21 In Him the whole structure is joined (bound, welded) together harmoniously, and it continues to rise (grow, increase) into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, consecrated, and sacred to the presence of the Lord]. 22 In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you yourselves also are being built up [into this structure] with the rest, to form a fixed abode (dwelling place) of God in (by, through) the Spirit.”

There is a reason for this process of transformation. It is only these kinds of “stones” that have the ability to shine and reflect light once they have been polished, that will make up the New Jerusalem!

In Corinthians, Paul highlights the p r i n c i p l e t h a t t h e p h y s i c a l manifestation must take place before the spiritual realization can occur.

1 Corinthians 15:45-49 “45 Thus it is written, The first man Adam became a living being (an individual personality); the last Adam (Christ) became a life-giving Spirit [restoring the dead to life]. 46 But it is not the spiritual life which came first, but the physical and then the spiritual. 47

The first man [was] from out of earth, made of dust (earthly-minded); the second Man [is] the Lord from out of heaven. 48 Now those who are made of the dust are like him who was first made of the dust (earthly-minded); and as is [the Man] from heaven, so also [are those] who are of heaven (heavenly-minded). 49

And just as we have borne the image [of the man] of dust, so shall we and so let us also bear the image [of the Man] of heaven.”

The Old Testament Temple …

The Old Testament therefore gives us this description of God’s Creative Will … He appoints gifted artisans, filled with the Spirit of Wisdom to make things for the Tabernacle.

Exodus 28:3 “3 Tell all who are expert, whom I have endowed with skill and good judgment, that they shall make Aaron’s garments to sanctify him for My priesthood.”

The word artisan in Hebrew is chakan …

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“chakan”

“wise, gifted, engraver”

In the Old Testament, the artisan “engraved” the names of the Tribes onto the precious stones on the High Priest’s breastplate.

Take note … the artisan was a type or forerunner of the Holy Spirit.

In the spiritual realm, Y’shua has empowered us with the Holy Spirit whose purpose and goal is to engrave God’s Torah and Word on our hearts.

Hebrews 10:15-16 “15 And also the Holy Spirit adds His testimony to us [in confirmation of this]. For having said, 16 This is the agreement (testament, covenant) that I will set up and conclude with them after those days, says the Lord: I will imprint My laws upon their hearts,

and I will inscribe them on their minds (on their inmost thoughts and understanding),”

The Holy Spirit also teaches us …

• The Truth and Power of God’s Word and Torah, and

• How to identify false doctrine

Zechariah 1:18-21 “18 Then I lifted up my eyes and saw, and behold, four horns [symbols of strength]. 19 And I said to the angel who talked with me, What are these? And he answered me, These are the horns or powers which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. 20 Then the Lord showed me four smiths or workmen [one for each enemy horn, to beat it down]. 21 Then said I, What are these [horns and smiths] coming to do? And he said, These are the horns or powers that scattered Judah so that no man lifted up his head. But these smiths or workmen have come to terrorize them and cause them to be panic-stricken, to cast out the horns or powers of the nations who lifted up their horn against the land of Judah to scatter it.”

The polishing process …

Once we have been shaped and formed, we need to be polished. Living Stones that have been polished are called gems.

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Zechariah 9:16 “16 And the Lord their God will save them on that day as the flock of His people, for they shall be as the [precious] jewels of a crown, lifted high over and shining glitteringly upon His land.”

Exodus 19:5 “5 Now therefore, if you will obey My voice in truth and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own peculiar possession and treasure from among and above all peoples; for all the earth is Mine.”

Matthew 13:43 “43 Then will the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God) shine forth like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let him who has ears [to hear] be listening, and let him consider and perceive and understand by hearing.”

Sh’ma … hear and do!

It is now time to turn to the two women in the Torah that I want to use for this illustration … Esther and Lydia.

Esther

In the example of Esther, we find the following process of shaping, trimming, and polishing.

Esther takes time to prepare herself in the physical domain.

Esther 2:12 “12 Now when the turn of each maiden came to go in to King Ahasuerus, after the regulations for the women had been carried out for twelve months—since this was the regular period for their beauty treatments, six months with oil of myrrh and six months with sweet spices and perfumes and the things for the purifying of the women—“

She prepares herself for the end-time task that lies ahead.

Esther 4:15-16 “15 Then Esther told them to give this answer to Mordecai, 16

Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast for me; and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. I also and my maids will fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.”

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She intercedes for a just cause at peril of her own life. She makes a choice to do what is right!

To do this you need …

• A culture of questioning the opinions and laws of man. This means, you need a people who measure everything against the benchmark of the Torah.• To have built up a culture of courage … even if this means that you stand alone, are discriminated against, and experience personal loss.

Esther 5:2 “2 And when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight, and he held out to [her] the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther drew near and touched the tip of the scepter.”

Esther 7:4 “4 For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, slain, and wiped out of existence! But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I would have held my tongue, for our affliction is not to be compared with the damage this will do to the king.”

An indication of someone who sh’ma’s God’s Word …

• The person has listened, paid attention, and is now carrying out the action of doing the Word.

• There is evidence of the change … the Fruit will be shown. This Fruit is that of the Holy Spirit in the works of obedience

Lydia

Let us now look at the example of Lydia. Lydia makes a complete commitment to serve God.

Acts 16:13-15 “13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the [city’s] gate to the bank of the river where we supposed there was an [accustomed] place of prayer, and we sat down and addressed the women who had assembled there. 14 One of those who listened to us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a dealer in fabrics dyed in purple. She was [already] a worshiper of God, and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 15 And when she was baptized along with her household, she earnestly entreated us, saying, If in your opinion I am one really convinced [that Jesus is the Messiah and the Author of salvation] and that I will be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay. And she induced us [to do it].”

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Being in the Palm of God’s Hand …

We have been studying the process of preparation; the grinding of the Living Stones … Messiah does not rest until we are His!

At this stage, we are in His Hand.

One may tend to feel that we have arrived … that we have reached the goal!

After all we are in God’s Hand and with a Crown ... what more can we ask? This is a place of great danger. If we do not focus on the End-Time calling, we could waste our purpose and destiny.

I will show you that this is only a temporary station or resting place. You need to move to another dimension.

To be in the Palm of God’s Hand has a unique and special meaning. For an understanding of this we need to revert to the Hebrew.

The Hebrew word kaf has the meaning …

1. “kaf”

“palm – which is the location where the potential of the hand

[yod] is realized and actualized”

“spoon – which is a natural extension of the hand as a

container”

2. “kafah”

“kaf” comes from this root word which means …

“to bend, to bow down –

suggesting the shape of a body or shape of a crown on one’s head”

From this, we learn that we must not let …

• the circumstances of this world• our trials and tribulations• the opinions of pagan governments and men

… to cause us to lose sight of the fact that we will realize our full potential when we stand in the Palm of God’s Hand.

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Paul tells us this in the New Testament book of Hebrews. We are exhorted to leave the “things” of the First Principle – milk – and to move onto the solid food.

Hebrews 5:12-14 “12 For even though by this time you ought to be teaching others, you actually need someone to teach you over again the very first principles of God’s Word. You have come to need milk, not solid food. 13 For everyone who continues to feed on milk is obviously inexperienced and unskilled in the doctrine of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action), for he is a mere infant [not able to talk yet]! 14 But solid food is for full-grown men, for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice to discriminate and distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary either to divine or human law.”

This move to a higher dimension of Holiness means that we are becoming “gems”. We truly begin to shine and reflect God’s Light.

The process of “shining” for God …

Isaiah 62:10-12 “10 Go through, go through the gates! Prepare the way for the people. Cast up, cast up the highway! Gather out the stones. Lift up a standard or ensign over and for the peoples. 11 Behold, the Lord has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to the Daughter of Zion, Behold, your salvation comes [in the person of the Lord]; behold, His reward is with Him, and His work and recompense before Him. 12 And they shall call them the Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord; and you shall be called Sought Out, a City Not Forsaken.”

We now see that the “living stones” will become polished gems. God will not rest until that is so.

Crown of Glory … Gem …

What must a gem do … ?

Reflect God’s Light.

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Becoming a crown in God’s Hand is not the end-time goal!

We have a purpose. Prophetically, we need to move onwards until we have achieved God’s end-time purpose.

We are therefore workers in God’s Field.

1 Corinthians 3:9-13 “9 For we are fellow workmen (joint promoters, laborers together) with and for God; you are God’s garden and vineyard and field under cultivation, [you are] God’s building. 10 According to the grace (the special endowment for my task) of God bestowed on me, like a skillful architect and master builder I laid [the] foundation, and now

another [man] is building upon it. But let each [man] be careful how he builds upon it, 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than

that which is [already] laid, which is Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). 12 But if anyone builds upon the Foundation, whether it be with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 The work of each [one] will become [plainly, openly] known (shown for what it is); for the day [of Christ] will disclose and declare it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test and critically appraise the character and worth of the work each person has done.”

Practical application …

Every father is called into a place of leadership in the home. The home is in fact the smallest structure representing God’s Bride.

Leaders of a family [which include the mother] are called to shine God’s Reflected Light in the following ways.

1. The call to reflect God’s Light by feeding the sheep.

1 Peter 5:2-3 “2 Tend (nurture, guard, guide, and fold) the flock of God that is [your responsibility], not by coercion or constraint, but willingly; not dishonorably motivated by the advantages and profits [belonging to the office], but eagerly and cheerfully; 3 Not domineering [as a r r o g a n t , d i c t a t o r i a l , a n d overbearing persons] over those in your charge, but being examples (patterns and models of Christian living) to the flock (the congregation).”

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This function of feeding and tending the sheep speaks not to the physical only, but more specifically to be …

• A role model of God’s Character, specifically the virtue of patience [to listen to the burdens of the sheep] and the gift to exhort [to encourage others to stand under all circumstances]• Implanting of the Torah in their hearts• Building of a blessed community• Restoration of woundedness when they are hurt by the world system that we live in.

Proverbs 12:4 “4 A virtuous and worthy wife [earnest and strong in character] is a crowning joy to her husband, but she who makes him ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.”

2. The call to reflect God’s Light by being a watchman on the walls.

Isaiah 62:6-9 “6 I have set watchmen upon your walls, O Jerusalem, who will never hold their peace day or night; you who [are His servants and by your prayers] put the Lord in remembrance [of His promises], keep not silence, 7 And give Him no rest until He establishes Jerusalem and makes her a praise in the earth. 8 The Lord has sworn by His right hand and by His mighty arm: Surely I will not again give your grain as food for your enemies, and [the invading sons of] aliens shall not drink your new wine for which you have toiled; 9 But they who have gathered it shall eat it and praise the Lord, and they who have brought in the vintage shall drink it [at the feasts celebrated] in the courts of My sanctuary (the temple of My holiness).”

This function calls for the father and mother to be spiritually aware of the impact on our children of …

• pagan influences• evil / sinful practices• immoral acquaintances

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The “shining” is the ability to lead children without creating negative or judgmental positions about others, but also would entail taking up a “hard” stand against those who would wound, maim, or destroy our family.

Mordecai

Mordecai was a wise leader who was able to discern the attack from the kingdom of darkness and to lead Esther to make the right choice.

Esther 7:5-6 “5 Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, Who is he, and where is he who dares presume in his heart to do that? 6 And Esther said, An adversary and an enemy, even this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and queen.”

God puts us over all things … we have to watch over these!

Hebrews 2:6-9 “6 It has been solemnly and earnestly said in a certain place, What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You graciously and helpfully care for and visit and look after him? 7 For some little time You have ranked him lower than and inferior to the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor and set him over the works of Your hands, 8 For You have put everything in subjection under his feet. Now in putting everything in subjection to man, He left nothing outside [of man’s] control. But at present we do not yet see all things subjected to him [man]. 9 But we are able to see Jesus, Who was ranked lower than the angels for a little while, crowned with glory and honor because of His having suffered death, in order that by the grace (unmerited favor) of God [to us sinners] He might experience death for every individual person.”

3. The call to shine and reflect God’s Light by building the highway.

Isaiah 62:10 “10 Go through, go through the gates! Prepare the way for the people. Cast up, cast up the highway! Gather out the stones. Lift up a standard or ensign over and for the peoples.”

We are called to be a “separate” people … uniquely following Y’shua. The Highway that we build is evidence before the pagan’s eyes that we are loving and serving God by doing His Will in acts of obedience. The Highway therefore contains markers in time of our celebration of the Feasts of the Lord.

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Exodus 19:5 “5 Now therefore, if you will obey My voice in truth and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own peculiar possession and treasure from among and above all peoples; for all the earth is Mine.”

4. The call to reflect God’s Light by proclaiming that the Bride of Messiah will be called the “Redeemed of YHWH”.

Isaiah 62:12 “12 And they shall call them the Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord; and you shall be called Sought Out, a City Not Forsaken.”

We reflect God’s Light when His Glory is all that is seen!

Reve la t ion 21 :19 -23 “ 19 The foundation [stones] of the wall of the city were ornamented with all of the precious stones. The first foundation [stone] was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony (or white agate), the fourth emerald, 20

The fifth onyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, t h e n i n t h t o p a z , t h e t e n t h chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each separate gate being built of one solid pearl. And the main street (the broadway) of the city w a s o f g o l d a s p u r e a n d

translucent as glass. 22 I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Omnipotent [Himself] and the Lamb

[Himself] are its temple. 23 And the city has no need of the sun nor of the moon to give light to it, for the splendor and radiance (glory) of God illuminate it, and the Lamb is its lamp.”

Proverbs 20:15 “15 There is gold, and a multitude of pearls, but the lips of knowledge are a vase of preciousness [the most precious of all].”

Psalm 8:5 “5 Yet You have made him but a little lower than God [or heavenly beings], and You have crowned him with glory and honor.”

Those who have allowed God to form and polish them … who now have a Crown of Glory and Honor and sit in His Hand have an end-time purpose.

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Are you ready to reflect His Light?

Are you prepared to be a sparkling Jewel?

Are you living in unity with the o ther l iving “Gemstones”?

Together, only together, do we form the New Jerusalem. The Body of Messiah needs to reverse the curse of the Tower of Babel. At Babel, mankind got together in unity to compete with God … with the consequence of multiple languages.

In the New Jerusalem we get together t o wo rsh ip YHWH … w i th t he consequence being, in obedience and in one accord, we speak one language … the praises of God.

Hallelujah!

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